12. Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
D espite the late night with Sophia and the girls, I still wake up early. Unable to get back to sleep, I decide to just have a much-deserved slow morning. However, my lazy morning plans soon change as I read the first notification on my phone.
Theo Collins liked your photo.
Last night, after the suggestion from the girls, I finally looked at the photos Sophia took of me from my first day in Rhodes. To my surprise, I actually liked them. One in particular stood out to me and, as I looked at it, my eyes didn’t immediately go to my bigger arms or wide hips. Instead, I was able to focus on the smile on my face, the way the light played with the red tones of my hair and how the breeze caught the skirt of my dress, creating a pretty ripple in the material. I looked happy. I looked pretty. So, I shared it on social media, forgetting about it until now.
I stare at Theo’s name on my screen, feeling a rollercoaster of emotions wash over me. My heart speeds up a little. I get that jittery, nervous excitement I always felt when he called or texted me. But the feeling is quickly replaced by wariness. It’s been nearly a month. Why is he checking in on me now? What does this mean? Confusion bubbles inside my chest.
“Stop it,” I say aloud to myself. “So he liked your photo, it means nothing.”
But the notification dissolves any plans of relaxing in bed, so I head to the shower and let myself luxuriate in the hot steam and smell of the olive oil bath products. Refreshed but still full of nervous energy, I tug on a pair of beige linen shorts and a soft blue t-shirt before leaving my room, locking the door quietly behind me.
Nobody is at the reception desk when I walk by, allowing me to sneak out of the hotel without distraction. The streets are void of any people at 7am. My only company is the twittering birds above and, of course, a few lazy cats. None of which come searching for affection this morning. I wonder if they, like the local people, just can’t be bothered to move this early in the morning. Or perhaps they can sense my frazzled mood and just can’t be bothered with me.
If that’s the case, I don’t blame them.
Winding my way through the streets I make my way to the bakery. Hoping the promise of a new Greek pastry, a freddo cappuccino, and a friendly smile from Sophia will distract me from my current funk.
“Kalimera, Calla!” Sophia’s bubbly voice calls out as I enter the door. Despite the fact that she drank more than I did, she looks fresh and well-rested. The perks of being in your early twenties.
“Morning, Sophia.” I smile and nod at the older woman, stationed again at the cash register and turn my head back to my friend.
“Something sweet today, please? And a freddo cappuccino?”
Sophia nods, grabbing a fresh pair of tongs before relaying my order in Greek to the other woman who rings me up and passes me a paper bag, heavy with whatever treat Sophia has chosen for me. I head outside, grabbing a seat at the same table as yesterday and wait.
A few minutes later, Sophia bounds down the stairs, my coffee in hand, to join me.
“Bougatsa krema!” she announces, nodding towards the thick pastry I’m currently eyeing. Like the spinach and feta pie from my first day, it has a crispy phyllo crust. However, this one is dusted in icing sugar and the filling is thick and creamy. “It’s a custard filling, sweet but not too sweet. One of my favourites so I hope you like it.”
I bite into it, releasing a puff of icing sugar that dusts my face, shirt, and hands. But I don’t care because, wow, this is delicious.
“So good right?” Sophia beams, clearly satisfied that I’m enjoying her pick. “So what’s the plan today? You’re up early!”
Attempting to clean off some of the icing sugar from my hands with a napkin, I share my morning discovery of Theo liking my photo. It seems silly, but it’s also nice to get off my chest. Especially when we have already bonded over boy drama.
“Ugh.” She rolls her eyes dramatically, “How predictable.” She drums her fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought for a moment before declaring her plan.
“Why not take a boat trip today? There are tons that leave from the port and sail up the coast to various swim stops along the way. The weather is perfect for it, it will be a fun distraction and a good way to see the island’s coastline.”
I take another bite of my bougatsa krema and consider her proposal. I would like to see more of the beaches around the island, and a boat trip does sound like a fun way to spend a hot, sunny day in Rhodes.
“Ok,” I agree. “What company do you recommend?”
By 9am I’m standing at the dock showing my confirmation email to a crew member in flashy silver aviators and a red polo featuring a logo of a small sailboat. Sophia called up a friend to see if they still had space on today’s excursion and I quickly booked a last-minute spot on a full-day sightseeing boat trip up the coastline. The trip promises three swim stops in various bays, a buffet lunch, and scenic views of Rhodes. All of which sounds perfect to me.
“Welcome on board, please grab a seat anywhere you like. We’ll be leaving any minute now.”
I smile in thanks and make my way up the plank onto the boat. It’s two levels, the bottom offering shade for those seeking it while the top is a sundeck. I opt for the sunshine, at least for now, and make my way up the stairs to grab one of the remaining lounge chairs.
Even though it’s still considered early in the season, the boat is pretty full. Mostly with couples rather than families as it’s still the school year. I scan the upper deck, looking past the seat beside a young man applying sunscreen to (presumably) his girlfriend’s back. There’s another open space beside an older couple. Both of them already fully reclined, eyes closed and chins tilted to the sun. I see three empty chairs beside what seems to be a mixed friend group and one last empty lounger beside two middle-aged ladies. I debate for a minute before heading over to the two other women.
“Excuse me, is this seat free?”
The one closest to me looks up at me through her oversized sunglasses and flashes me a warm smile.
“Sure thing, dear. It’s all yours,” she replies in a British accent.
I thank her and take a seat, digging into my canvas beach bag for my towel and some sunscreen.
A few seconds later my neighbour introduces herself as Charlotte and her companion as Diana. The women are best friends and live just outside London. They decided they were bored of the dreary UK spring and left their husbands and teenage children at home for a sunny week-long escape to Rhodes. Upon learning that I am travelling alone, they quickly include me in all conversations.
“I do hope I get a tan today!” Diana announces, stretching out her pale, freckled arm in front of her. “We’ve been here three days already and I’m still as white as a ghost.”
“Ooph same,” Charlotte grabs the top of her black, strapless one-piece and wriggles it down lower on her chest, revealing an impressive amount of very white cleavage to the sun. “People won’t believe me when I tell them I’ve been on holiday in Greece if I go home looking like this!”
While my tan-enthusiast neighbours debate how long it will take them to get some colour, I take the opposite approach and apply a generous layer of SPF 50 sunscreen before stretching out to take in the view.
As promised, the boat departed soon after I got on and we cruised out of the port and past the towering walls of the Old Town. As we leave the castle-like city behind, the landscape changes to rolling hills dotted with rocks and the occasional village. The scenery isn’t nearly as green as I am used to back home but it’s still beautiful, especially against the vibrant blue of the Aegean Sea.
I spend the next couple of hours chatting and getting to know Charlotte and Diana as we soak up the sunshine and plunge into the clear waters of the sea in picturesque bays. The water is definitely chilly, which comes as a bit of a shock when I first jump in. However, soon enough I get used to it and appreciate the refreshing coolness against the heat of the sun.
After a few hours of scenic cruising and two swim stops, it’s time for lunch. The crew puts together an incredible buffet-style spread of salads and grilled vegetables, chunks of feta cheese drizzled with olive oil and a massive bowl of thick and creamy tzatziki. There’s fresh pita, a tomato pasta dish, and even BBQ chicken and grilled fish. The three of us fill our plates and each order a can of cold Mamos beer before settling back into our seats to dig in.
“Oooh, would you look at him!”
I’m mid-chew through a deliciously ripe tomato when Charlotte draws my attention in an excited but hushed tone. Diana and I both follow her gaze, landing on a fair-haired man climbing the stairs to the upper deck. The red shirt he’s wearing identifies him as part of the crew, but the tight fit does nothing to hide his muscular frame. Like the other crew members, he also wears a pair of heavily mirrored sunglasses, which, to be honest, just adds to the whole Greek boat-boy allure. There’s no doubt about it. This is one incredibly good-looking man.
Feeling the gaze of three women staring at him, he glances in our direction. I quickly avert my eyes, concentrating on the remaining food on my plate. Charlotte and Diana, however, keep right on staring which encourages him to come over.
“Hello ladies, are you enjoying your day? Your lunch?”
Both women titter excitedly at his attention, feeding off of each other as they tell him how much they love the trip, the food, the weather…everything really.
“And you?”
I look up to see his attention is now wholly focused on me.
“Um yes, it’s great. Thanks!”
I note the look of surprise on his face as he takes in my accent.
“American?”
“Canadian,” I correct.
“I love Canadians,” he tells me, flashing an incredibly white smile.
I can see Charlotte and Diana exchanging a sly smile out of the corner of my eye. Meanwhile, I am incredibly flustered by his attention and want nothing more than for him to walk away and check in on the other guests on board.
Unfortunately for me, he does not.
“I’m Niko.” He reaches out a tanned hand and I have no option but to shake it.
“Calla.”
“Nice to meet you, Calla. How long are you in Rhodes for?”
“Just a few days,” I tell him.
“I’ll make sure to see you around then.”
He nods to Diana and Charlotte before continuing on his way to check in with the other guests.
I stab another tomato, shoving it into my mouth as Charlotte and Diana erupt in a fit of giggles.
“You could climb that man like a tree.” Charlotte’s eyes trail Niko across the deck, looking like she’d love nothing more than to do just that.
I nearly choke on my tomato as the words come out of her mouth.
“Oh, you wish!” Diana smacks her playfully on the arm. “He only has eyes for our Calla! Oh, see there! He’s looking at her again.”
I refuse to rise to the bait but I can feel my cheeks flush warmly at being the centre of attention. Quickly, I try to change the subject, but Charlotte and Diana are entirely enamoured with Niko, whom they have dubbed ‘Adonis’ after the Greek myth of the beautiful man who was lover to both Aphrodite and Persephone.
“Calla, honey,” Charlotte announces, taking one final sip of her beer, “take one for the team and bring that one to your bed tonight, ok?”